A new podcast episode gives Buckeye residents an inside look at the planning behind Teravalis.
Episode 107 of the Land to Lots podcast features an interview with Charley Freericks. He serves as Arizona region president for Howard Hughes Communities.
Host Carter Froelich speaks with Freericks about the enormous project and the decisions driving its development.
A project measured in generations
Teravalis spans more than 37,000 acres in Buckeye. Howard Hughes has projected 100,000 homes and 300,000 residents at full buildout.
Plans also include 55 million square feet of commercial development.
Those numbers make Teravalis much more than another Buckeye subdivision. Its growth could influence jobs, shopping, housing, traffic, and infrastructure for generations.
The company expects the community to develop over approximately 100 years.
From Douglas Ranch to Teravalis
The first installment explains how Freericks became involved with the property. His connection to the former Douglas Ranch project goes back decades.
Freericks entered the land business with Grubb & Ellis in 1983. He later worked with Talley Industries, DMB, and Catellus.
At Catellus, he led the Novus Innovation Corridor on Arizona State University’s Tempe campus.
That experience helped bring Freericks out of retirement to lead Teravalis in 2024.
Freericks also explains what Howard Hughes encountered after acquiring the Buckeye property.
The original Douglas Ranch and Trillium plans included outdated zoning and development agreements. Moving the project forward required a rewrite spanning nearly 500 pages.
Planning 12 villages and a future downtown
Froelich and Freericks discuss Howard Hughes’ long-term ownership model.
The company plans to maintain a continuing interest in the community. That differs from developers that build sections and quickly sell their remaining property.
The approach allows Howard Hughes to adjust its land-use plans as Buckeye changes. Those adjustments could involve housing, retail, offices, and multifamily development.
Planner Peter Calthorpe divided Teravalis into approximately 12 villages.
The episode also covers neighborhood shopping areas and larger mixed-use commercial districts. Freericks discusses plans for the eventual development of downtown Floreo.
Infrastructure will guide the next phase
Roads, bridges, and existing infrastructure will determine where Teravalis expands next.
The Hassayampa River creates both planning challenges and development opportunities. New bridges would provide access to additional portions of the property.
However, those bridges require major investments. Howard Hughes must weigh the cost against the development each connection would unlock.
That process will influence the timing and location of future villages.
Why Buckeye residents should listen
Teravalis could help reshape Buckeye over the coming decades.
The project’s size means its decisions could affect transportation, employment, retail, housing, and city services.
This interview gives residents a direct explanation from the executive leading the development. It also explains why a project of this size cannot grow all at once.
The discussion provides helpful context for anyone following Buckeye’s rapid growth and future development.
This is Part 1 of the Teravalis interview.
Listen to Episode 107 on Land to Lots or watch the interview on YouTube. Readers can also learn more through the official Teravalis website.
